DMBQ

DMBQ is a Japanese rock band from Tokyo, whose name stands for Dynamite Masters Blues Quartet^[1]. They are heavily influenced by British and American rock music of the early 1970s, especially bands such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin.

Shinji Masuko is a well-known journalist in Japan who has regular columns in several music, pornography and subculture magazines. And, he is a younger brother of Naozumi Masuko who is a member of Dohatsuten.

Yuka Yoshimura belonged to OOIOO at the same time as DMBQ until 2003 under the name of Yoshico, and participated in Hatsuiku Status which Shiina Ringo formed temporarily.

History

DMBQ was formed in Hokkaido in 1989. The members were Shinji Masuko (vo/g), Ryuuichi Watanabe (b), and Yuka Yoshimura (ds). They began performing in Tokyo in early 1990 and quickly gained notoriety for their psychedelic live performances.

In 1995, their debut album "DYNAMITE MASTERS BLUES QUANTET" was released.

In 1997, Toru Matsui (g) became a member of the band.

In 1999, they contracted with "PARCO/Colomubia" and made their major debut.

In 2002, they contracted with "avex trax".

In 2004, they were supposed to start their first America tour from June. However, Yoshimura left the band just before that, and Mana Nishiura (a.k.a. China) became a member of the band instead of her.

In 2005, they contracted with the American label "Estrus/Touch And Go", and tour in the United States. On November 4, 2005, Mana Nishiura, the drummer of DMBQ, better known as China to some of the band's fans, died in a car accident while on an international tour in the US. They were on their way to a show at New York City's Club Exit.^[2]

After recovering from their injuries, DMBQ decided to go right back to the US (West coast only) for another mini-tour.

In February, 2006, Shinji Wada became a member formally.

Personnel

Current members

• Shinji Masuko - guitar, synth
• Toru Matsui - guitar
• Ryuichi Watanabe - bass
• Shinji Wada - drums (ex KING BROTHERS)

Former members

• Mana Nishiura - drums
• Yuka Yoshimura - drums (She was a former member of OOIOO, and her current projects is Metalchicks)

Other works

Tompei & Bishop

The rock band which Tompei (Masuko) and Bishop (Matsui) formed.

Hydro-Guru

The garage blues unit which Masuko and Yoshimura formed.

Masuko's work with Boredoms

Masuko has recently become a sub-member of Japanese noise rock group Boredoms, in which he assumes live tuning and maintenance duties of the seven neck guitar instrument Sevena, which he created. He has built two versions of this instrument, the first being made of seven Fender Telecaster guitars connected together, and the second being made of seven steel guitars. The instrument is played as a percussion instrument by Yamantaka Eye, who either strikes the individual necks of the instrument with drum sticks or strikes many of them at once with a staff. The instruments are connected to a mixing console and are played through a Marshall guitar amp. Due to the ferocity with which Eye plays the instruments, Masuko can be seen behind the Sevena(s) constantly replacing and tuning broken strings throughout a Boredoms live performance.

Partial discography

References

1. ^ MKCL-002 Fable of Thinnerlemon
2. ^ http://www.newyorknighttrain.com/zine/issues/1/dmbq.html

External links

• DMBQ Official Site
• Official myspace page
• DMBQ performing in Brooklyn
• DMBQ's Photo Feature in SPIN's Dec. '08 Issue